TY - JOUR
T1 - Using theoretical constructs to identify key issues for targeted message design
T2 - African American seniors' perceptions about influenza and influenza vaccination
AU - Cameron, Kenzie A.
AU - Rintamaki, Lance S.
AU - Kamanda-Kosseh, Mafo
AU - Noskin, Gary A.
AU - Baker, David W.
AU - Makoul, Gregory
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by a Career Development Award from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (grant no. 8 K01 CD000285 to Kenzie A. Cameron). The contents of this manuscript are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the CDC.
PY - 2009/6
Y1 - 2009/6
N2 - African American seniors (65 and older) are less likely to be vaccinated against influenza than are non-Hispanic White seniors. There is a clear need for targeted messages and interventions to address this disparity. As a first step, 6 focus groups of African American seniors (N = 48) were conducted to identify current perceptions about influenza and influenza vaccination. Emergent thematic categories were organized using the 4 main constructs of the extended parallel process model. Susceptibility varied based on perceptions of individual health status, background knowledge, and age-related risk. Some participants saw influenza as a minor nuisance; others viewed it as threatening and potentially deadly. Participants discussed issues related or antecedent to self-efficacy, including vaccine accessibility and affordability. Regarding response efficacy, some participants had confidence in the vaccine, some questioned its preventive ability or believed that the vaccine caused influenza, and others noted expected side effects. Implications and recommendations for message development are discussed.
AB - African American seniors (65 and older) are less likely to be vaccinated against influenza than are non-Hispanic White seniors. There is a clear need for targeted messages and interventions to address this disparity. As a first step, 6 focus groups of African American seniors (N = 48) were conducted to identify current perceptions about influenza and influenza vaccination. Emergent thematic categories were organized using the 4 main constructs of the extended parallel process model. Susceptibility varied based on perceptions of individual health status, background knowledge, and age-related risk. Some participants saw influenza as a minor nuisance; others viewed it as threatening and potentially deadly. Participants discussed issues related or antecedent to self-efficacy, including vaccine accessibility and affordability. Regarding response efficacy, some participants had confidence in the vaccine, some questioned its preventive ability or believed that the vaccine caused influenza, and others noted expected side effects. Implications and recommendations for message development are discussed.
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U2 - 10.1080/10410230902889258
DO - 10.1080/10410230902889258
M3 - Article
C2 - 19499425
AN - SCOPUS:69849085600
VL - 24
SP - 316
EP - 326
JO - Health Communication
JF - Health Communication
SN - 1041-0236
IS - 4
ER -